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1. Programmes specific for vulnerable young people

2. Funding

3. Quality assurance

Programmes specific for vulnerable young people

There are not many programmes focused exclusively on vulnerable young people. However, available programmes address and support youth inclusion. 

In terms of educational programmes, the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, operates the second cycle of the programme 'Actions for Social and School Inclusion+ (DRA.SE.+)' (Δράσεις Σχολικής και Κοινωνικής Ένταξης- ΔΡΑ.Σ.Ε.+), which has been a part of the public schools since 2015. As described in section 4.2, the programme focuses on the students’ learning and social development while promoting inclusion across the public school system, without being limited to specific geographical zones.

The project’s main objectives are the following:

• Support students and families at risk of poverty or social exclusion.
• Ensure welfare and support for financially vulnerable groups, particularly those affected by the economic crisis.
• Reduce early school leaving.
• Improve learning outcomes.
• Reduce school failure and misbehavior.
• Strengthen social cohesion and prevent social marginalisation.
• Promote participation in educational, cultural, creative, and health-related activities.

The programme also promotes participation in educational, cultural, creative, and health-related activities through innovative preventive actions, such as creative activity spaces and student clubs, all designed to enhance students’ engagement, well-being, and inclusion in school and community life.

According to the latest Annual Report of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth for 2024, during the school year 2023- 2024, the programme was implemented in all levels of education (55 Pre-primary and 91 Primary Schools, 29 Gymnasia and Lycea, and 3 Technical and Vocational Education and Training schools). It covered the 27,8% of the student population for the school year 2023- 2024.

The  Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (Τμήμα Κοινωνικής Ενσωμάτωσης Ατόμων με Αναπηρίες), which is under the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare provides a range of social benefits and support schemes aimed at promoting social inclusion and independent living, including for young people. These cover mobility and transport benefits, financial allowances, assistive equipment support, disability parking cards, and other technical and care-related services. Several schemes are particularly relevant for young people, especially those studying or entering the labour market. For example, the Mobility Allowance supports individuals with mobility or visual impairments who are working or studying by providing a monthly mobility benefit that can help with transport costs. Also, other services such as allowances for assistive devices, wheelchair provision, financial support for technical means, and disability parking cards support young people’s participation in education, training and community life, though specific criteria apply for each scheme. 

Another programme that supports the inclusion of youth, run by the Department, is the ‘Family Intervention and Support Center for Autism’. The programme provides early intervention services specifically for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. By addressing developmental needs from an early age, the programme contributes to the long-term social inclusion of children as they transition into adolescence and youth, supporting their meaningful participation in education and community life.

Additionally, the  Scheme for the Vocational Training of Persons with Disabilities aims to broaden the opportunities for training and education of people with disabilities based on individual programmes in training institutions or private or public-sector enterprises, for the professional rehabilitation of the individuals. Beneficiaries are persons with disabilities, including young people, who may experience employment difficulties in their field, despite their level of education. Similarly, the Scheme for subsidization of Persons with Disabilities for the Creation of Social Enterprises supports individuals with disabilities from the age of 18 years old, in establishing and operating social enterprises. The programme aims to promote economic independence, entrepreneurship, and social inclusion of individuals, including young people.

The level and trends of participation in these schemes are not yet recorded by official statistics.

Several actions and programmes are also taking place under the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) Programme 2021-2027. The Fund aims to further strengthen national capacities and improve procedures for managing migration, reinforcing solidarity and responsibility sharing between Member States. The responsible authority for the implementation and coordination of this Programme is the Ministry of Interior and the European Funds Unit. Even though, there is no data available to explicitly indicate any youth-focused interventions, the projects that are eligible for funding under AIMF 2021-2027 are similar to those of AIMF 2014-2020, such as inclusion projects by local communities/NGOs and measures targeting vulnerable groups of people including unaccompanied minors. Thus, young people, including young asylum seekers and migrants, may benefit indirectly as part of broader target groups through this programme.

Τhe Cyprus National Addictions Authority (NAAC) (Αρχή Αντιμετώπισης Εξαρτήσεων Κύπρου) is the coordinating body in the field of legal and illegal dependency substances and has been the evolution of the Anti-Drug Council since November 2017. In November 2020, the new National Addictions Strategy 2021-2028 (Eθνική Στρατηγική για την Αντιμετώπιση των Εξαρτήσεων 2021-2028) was presented to the public and the Action Plan for the period of 2021-2024 (Σχέδιο Δράσης 2021-2024) was designed. The main aim of the new Strategy is to safeguard young people’s right to have access to prevention, therapy, and social support services. In addition, both documents focus on the provision of a) prevention policies, b) health-related services, and c) social support to young people and all citizens of the Republic of Cyprus. Lastly, both documents stress the need for young people to adopt healthy lifestyle, in order not to be excluded by the Cypriot society. There are more than 30 public and other actors involved in the proposed programmes of the NAAC, such as ministries, the Cyprus Police, the Youth Board of Cyprus, associations, trade unions, and NGOs. Their role is to implement collectively the strategy and action plan. Also, the  NAAC has published a Guide on Social Reintegration Services (Οδηγός Υπηρεσιών Κοινωνικής Επανένταξης), mapping available reintegration services in Cyprus. The NAAC reports annually on school and community prevention activities, awareness campaigns, and treatment admissions, reaching a wide youth public (including students) each year. However, there are no further detailed youth-specific data available in the reports.

Funding

The Programme ‘DRA.S.E.+’ (‘ΔΡΑ.Σ.Ε.+’) is co-funded by the European Union Social Fund and the Republic of Cyprus (€60 million for 2021-2027).

All programmes implemented under the  Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities are part of the Cohesion Policy Program 'THALIA 2021-2027' with the co-financing of the EU. According to the Statistical Data Recipients-Beneficiaries-Expenditure (4th Quarter 2025) a total of €55,784,117 were spent in social benefits related to disability, including schemes like the Mobility Allowance, technical assistance support, disability parking cards and other benefit programmes from 2014 through 2025. There are no specific indicators related to youth.

For the 2021-2027 period, Cyprus has been allocated funding from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) by the European Commission, with an official allocation of approximately €90.1 million in EU contributions under the national programme.

The budget of the National Addictions Strategy 2021-2028 is not publicly available, however there are some budget indications for specific activities in the Action Plan 2021-2024 (Σχέδιο Δράσης 2021-2024).

Quality assurance

The Programme ‘DRA.S.E.+’, co-funded by the EU Social Fund is monitored by the Managing Authority which is the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth. Its implementation progress and outreach are recorded in the annual reports (Annual Report 2024) of the Ministry. However,  there are no further specific qualitative results on the programme at this point. The programme’s evaluation is incorporated into the overall evaluation framework of the Cohesion Policy Programme THALIA 2021-2027 (Πλάνο Αξιολόγησης ΘΑΛΕΙΑ 2021-2027) which covers all interventions implemented under the programme.

The Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities implements their actions and schemes in line with the Strategy for Social Policy 2022-2027 (Στρατηγική για την Κοινωνική Πολιτική 2022-2027). As these programmes are also implemented under the Cohesion Policy Programme of the European Union (EU) are subject to the standard monitoring required under EU regulations for the 2021–2027 programming period. At this point, there are no youth-specific quality indicators or evaluation reports for the schemes mentioned above.

For the 2021-2027 Programme for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), and in line with Article 35 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 (Common Provisions Regulation), a Monitoring Committee is set up and is responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the National Programme. Based on the meeting report of the 3rd Monitoring Committee of the Home Affairs Funds in 2024, which is published in the European Funds Directorate of the Ministry of Interior webpage; it has been recommended to strengthen child protection standards, taking into consideration the children’s best interest first. Also, particular attention is required for vulnerable groups, including unaccompanied minors with special emphasis placed on the need for timely and proper assessment of their specific circumstances, so as to safeguard their rights and ensure that protection needs are immediately and adequately addressed.

Regarding the National Addictions Strategy 2021-2028, many indicators are set in order to check the implementation of the strategy, as well as several deliverables for each action. The Cyprus National Addictions Authority monitors the assessment of the strategy; however, there are currently no new reports regarding the implementation of the Strategy or the first Action Plan 2021-2024.